A fascinating piece in the May 19 Defense News quotes
Gen. Tommy Franks, chief of U.S. Central Command, confirming what had
until now been mere rumors picked up by dubious Arab media
outlets -- that, before Gulf War II began, U.S. special forces had gone
in and bribed Iraqi generals not to fight.

"I had letters from Iraqi generals saying, 'I now work for you,' "
Franks told Defense News reporter Vago Muradian in a May 10 interview.

Which, once again, is more or less the
same way we beat the Taliban... and leaves us still wondering what
Rumsfeld and Co. have to offer that might work as well against an
opponent that declines to be bought.